Selling Printables Online: A Mom’s Goldmine

If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for ways to bring in a little extra cash without sacrificing your sanity.

Between school runs, endless laundry (seriously, where does it all come from?), and the mysterious vanishing of socks, it can feel like there’s no time left for anything else.

But guess what?

There’s a side hustle out there that’s perfect for busy moms like us: selling printables online.

Yep, printables! Those magical little pieces of paper (or digital files) that people are willing to pay for—and the best part? You create them once, and they can sell again and again, making it the ultimate mom goldmine.

So, What Exactly Are Printables?

Let’s start with the basics. Printables are digital files that buyers can print at home or at their local print shop. These can be anything from planners and to-do lists to kids’ activities, home decor, or even chore charts (trust me, we all need those!).

You create them once, upload them to an online platform, and voilà—you’re in business.

What I love about selling printables is that you don’t need to be a graphic designer. If you can put together a basic worksheet in something like Canva (more on that later), you’re good to go!

Why Printables Are Perfect for Moms

Okay, let’s be real: when you’re juggling kids, household duties, and maybe even a part-time job, starting a business can seem about as realistic as getting your toddler to eat broccoli. But that’s the beauty of printables—they’re incredibly low-maintenance once they’re created.

Here’s why selling printables is such a great gig for us busy moms:

• Work on your own time: You can work during nap times, after bedtime, or during that rare moment when your kids are playing quietly (seriously, cherish that moment—it’s like spotting a unicorn).
• Low startup cost: You don’t need fancy equipment or even a website to get started. You can sell printables on platforms like Etsy or Gumroad with very little upfront investment.
• Scalable income: Since printables are digital products, you create them once, and they can be sold over and over again without any additional effort on your part. Think of it as building a passive income stream.
• Creative freedom: You get to make whatever you want! Love organizing? Create planners. Obsessed with meal planning? (Who isn’t?) Whip up some meal prep templates. Got kids who love coloring? Boom—sell coloring pages!

Grab the “Selling Printables Online” eBook

How to Get Started Selling Printables Online

Alright, let’s dive into how you can get started. Trust me, it’s not as hard as it sounds—if you can wrangle three kids into car seats while holding a coffee, you’ve got the skills to make this work. 😉

Step 1: Find Your Niche

First things first, you need to figure out what kind of printables you want to create. What are you passionate about? What problems do you face as a mom that could be solved with a handy printable?

Some popular niches for printables include:

• Planners and organizers: Daily planners, meal planners, cleaning schedules, you name it!
• Kids’ activities: Coloring pages, educational worksheets, and chore charts (we’ll take all the help we can get, am I right?).
• Budgeting and finance: Budget planners, savings trackers, and expense logs are always in demand.
• Home decor: Wall art, quotes, and cute printables to spruce up a room.
• Holiday and event printables: Party invitations, gift tags, holiday planners, and decorations are a goldmine around certain times of the year.

Pick something that you enjoy or that solves a problem you’ve experienced. Trust me, if you love it, someone else will too!

Step 2: Create Your Printables

Now for the fun part: designing! Don’t panic if you’re not a pro with Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator—you don’t need to be. In fact, most of us are using Canva, a free and user-friendly tool that makes designing printables a breeze. It’s drag-and-drop simple, and there are tons of templates to help you get started.

Pro Tip: Keep your designs simple and functional. You don’t need to go overboard with graphics or colors—sometimes, the most minimalist designs sell the best because they’re so versatile.

Also, be sure to create your files in high resolution (300 dpi) so they print nicely. You’ll want to save your designs as PDFs for printables like planners or worksheets, but you can also save them as JPEGs or PNGs if you’re creating wall art.

Step 3: Choose a Platform to Sell On

Once you’ve got your printables ready, it’s time to get them out into the world! Luckily, there are a ton of platforms where you can sell your creations without needing to build your own website (though you can totally do that if you want to).

Here are a few popular platforms for selling printables:

• Etsy: Probably the most well-known option, Etsy has a huge audience, and buyers often come here specifically for printables. The downside is that Etsy charges a small listing fee and takes a percentage of your sales.
• Gumroad: This is a great platform if you want to keep things super simple. You upload your files, set a price, and Gumroad handles the rest.
• Creative Market: This platform is a bit more competitive, but it’s a fantastic place to sell more complex or design-heavy printables like digital art or templates.

Step 4: Market Your Printables

Now comes the part where you let people know about your awesome printables! Thankfully, there are tons of free or low-cost ways to market your products, especially if you’re active on social media.

Here are a few marketing tips to get your printables flying off the virtual shelves:

• Pinterest: Pinterest is a printable seller’s best friend. Since it’s essentially a visual search engine, you can pin your printables and link back to your Etsy shop or website. Use relevant keywords (more on that below), and be sure to create eye-catching pins.
• Instagram: Share sneak peeks of your printables on Instagram, and show how they can be used in everyday life. For example, share a story about how you use your meal planner to keep your family on track for the week.
• Facebook Groups: There are a ton of Facebook groups dedicated to moms, budgeting, organizing, and crafting. Join some of these groups (just be mindful of the rules), and share your printables when it’s appropriate.

Step 5: Price Your Printables

Pricing can be tricky, but the general rule of thumb is to start somewhere between $1.99 and $10, depending on the complexity of your printable. For example, a simple to-do list might be priced at $2.99, while a full 50-page planner could be priced at $9.99.

Pro Tip: Don’t underprice yourself! You put time and effort into creating these products, and people will pay for them, especially if they solve a problem or make their lives easier.

Tips for Success

Here are a few quick tips to help you crush it in the printable world:

1. Start with a small selection: Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to create 100 printables all at once. Start with five or six, and see how they do. You can always add more later!
2. Keep an eye on trends: Seasonal printables (think Christmas planners or back-to-school checklists) tend to do really well. Keep an eye on the calendar, and plan ahead!
3. Bundle your products: Offering bundles (e.g., a meal planner, grocery list, and recipe card set) can increase your average order value.

Final Thoughts

Selling printables online can be a mom’s golden ticket to a flexible, scalable income stream. Whether you’re looking to cover your grocery bill or start saving for that family vacation, printables can help you get there. Plus, it’s a fun way to get creative and share your ideas with the world—all while working on your time.

So what are you waiting for?

Grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine, no judgment here), open up Canva, and start creating your first printable! Your side hustle is just a few clicks away.